BROWNSVILLE -- The Aransas County family law judge last year seen beating his then-teenaged daughter in a YouTube video can return to the bench after he was issued a "public warning" by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Judge William Adams has been on paid leave since November, when daughter Hillary Adams posted her secret recording of the lashing, which occurred in 2004 in her bedroom after she'd illegally downloaded music videos. She was 16 at the time.

In terms of severity, a public warning is a step below a reprimand and two steps below advising removal.